This is a memoir about the "Black Greeks." A long-time brother discusses history and traditions and why Greek life was so special on black campuses during the early days. They are still important today.
Black Greeks are still quite visible in black community life. They make up a large percentage of the black middle class in almost any city where that ethnicity is numerous. They have spread to Africa and the Caribbean as well. It is fairly hard to become distinguished in these communities without being Greek. There were originally eight of these Greek Letter Societies and they were roughly paired across gender lines. Marriage partners were often considered along Greek lines. Community activities, such as the Howard University Boat Ride, were Greek sponsored.
There is, and remains a tendency of young Greeks to be proud of their brothers who are in the national spotlight. The Alpha Phi Alphas doted on Martin Luther King, Jr., as a member. The Omega National Headquarters was in Washington, D.C., for years. Men like Jesse Jackson, Michael Jordan, Shaq O'Neal, and many others, including Bill Cosby, are Ques. There were struggles to see which colleges had more brothers as presidents.